Ontario’s open and competitive sector for online gambling and sports betting grows even larger, as Amelco announces its official entry. The leading supplier announced that it has earned a Gambling Related Supplier license from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. Now, the company is eligible to offer its end-to-end solution for operators in the province.
The province’s market is the first of its nature across Canada, and it kicked off operations on April 4, 2022. Overseen by AGCO and iGaming Ontario, the local sector saw a total of CA$14 billion in placed wagers in the first quarter of 2023-2024. At the end of the quarter, there were 46 operators online, running 71 gaming websites.
Preparing for Official Debut
After acquiring the obligator certification from the province’s gaming regulators, Amelco is now eligible to offer its innovative solutions, iGaming portfolio, player account management and sportsbook suite to partner operators in the province. At the time, the online gambling supplier has not confirmed any operator with which it will partner in the jurisdiction.
Outside of Ontario, the leading provider has already teamed up with and acquired content from Evolution, NetEnt, Red Tiger, Pragmatic Play, and many more. It is expected that in the upcoming weeks, the aggregator of games will reveal its first collaborators in the sector. Its expertise in the industry and its already-established relationships put it in a solid position in the province.
The debut in Ontario was commented on by the company’s Head of USA, Brandon Walker. He said that the launch in Canada’s most populous province was a pivotal achievement in the supplier’s history. Mr. Walker said the team was pleased to finally gain entry to the province and is now looking forward to delivering its sportsbook and iGaming product to the local players.
Furthermore, he also discussed the company’s plans for North America as a whole. Mr. Walker said that the firm will focus on both iGaming and sports wagering, and is hopeful that it will be able to conduct its strategy in both. He also hinted that the provider has some big plans in store for Ontario, but those are subject to official announcements and will be disclosed in the next 12 months.
Market has Been Profitable
It is safe to say that Ontario’s initiative to open up its iGaming sector for third-party operators has been a success. According to provincial numbers, in the first year of regulated digital gaming raked in just over CA$1.48 billion to the province’s gross domestic product with CA$906 million going into labour income. These numbers put the province in the top five jurisdictions for online gaming in North America.
However, the increase in popularity has brought tons of marketing from gambling operators, which upset parents, due to the potential negative impact on children who watch sports games. That is why AGCO proposed banning the use of pro athletes and celebrities from featuring in gambling endorsements. But the new rule is yet to be implemented by the iGaming watchdog.
Source: “AGCO Clears Amelco for Launch in Ontario, Canada” Gambling News, August 3, 2023